Barack Obama in Row Over Anti-gay Pastor's Inauguration Role

President-elect Barack Obama defended his decision yesterday to give a prominent role at his inauguration to an evangelical pastor who has campaigned strongly against abortion and gay marriage.

The invitation sparked outrage among gay and lesbian rights organizations and disappointed liberal and social activist groups across the country. They have questioned why, from all the pastors in the country, Obama chose Rick Warren, who took a prominent role in campaigning in California recently against gay marriage, and who has compared abortion with the Holocaust.

Warren runs one of the biggest mega-churches in the US and his 2002 devotional book, The Purpose Driven Life, is one of the best-selling non-fiction books of all time. Such is his pulling power that he hosted a presidential debate between Obama and John McCain, in the summer.

Although Warren is relatively moderate by comparison with other evangelical leaders on issues such as climate change and Aids, he campaigned in favor of Proposition 8 in California, which amended the state's constitution to declare that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California". He equates gay marriage with incest and pedophilia.

The running order for the presidential inauguration, published on Wednesday, lists Warren as giving the opening prayer at the ceremony on the steps of Congress.

Asked about Warren yesterday, Obama said he wanted the inauguration to reflect the diversity of the US, and include even people he disagreed with.

"It is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans," Obama said. "It is something that I have been consistent on and something that I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency. What I've also said is that it is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues." Obama said he had also invited a pastor with very different views from Warren to carry out the benediction. Joseph Lowery, a civil rights veteran, was a co-founder with Martin Luther King of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Despite his claims to disagree with Warren over gay equality, Obama only favours civil unions and opposes gay marriage on religious grounds, which is close to Warren's position.

Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, a gay rights organisation, described the invitation as a "slap in the face to millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who donated for, worked for and helped elect Obama".

About 4 million people are expected to attend the inauguration, with hundreds of millions more watching on television worldwide. Amid concerns about the possibility of a terrorist attack, or an assassination attempt by a white racist group, about 11,000 military personnel are to be deployed. This is in addition to the arrangements being made by the US secret service and the Washington police force, which is to be supplemented by 4,000 extra police from elsewhere in the US.

The program for the day includes performances by the soul singer Aretha Franklin and the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who will play a specially commissioned work by the composer John Williams, and a new poem by Elizabeth Alexander, the Yale professor whose work ranges from slavery to women's rights.

Obama has invited civil rights veterans to attend, including the nine who faced the wrath of white racists by attending a desegregated school in Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as the surviving members of the African-American second world war flying aces the Tuskegee Airmen.

The program will begin with the US marine band, followed by the San Francisco boys' chorus and the San Francisco girls' chorus, followed by Warren. Franklin will be next up. The vice-president-elect, Joe Biden, will be sworn in. There will be a musical interlude with Ma, Williams the violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero and, on clarinet, Anthony McGill. Obama will then be sworn in and give the inaugural address. Alexander will read a poem written for the occasion, Lowery will provide the closing prayer, and the ceremony will end with the national anthem played by the US navy band.

As part of the security arrangements, about 7,500 troops will provide emergency medical teams, specialists in countering chemical attacks, and other support. They will be bolstered by about 4,000 national guard members who will support law enforcement agencies. Air patrols over the city will be increased.